Norwegian airline Widerøe has announced the first direct flights from London Stansted to the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand.
The flights will begin August 13, 2018, using a 78-seat Dash-8 Q400 aircraft from the north east London airport to Kjevik airport in southern Norway.
The airline says Kristiansand is a family destination and a gateway to small idyllic coastal towns, inland woods, elk safaris and rivers well suited for white water rafting and salmon fishing.
Stein Nilsen, Widerøe chief executive, said: “Following extensive market research, we believe that the new London Stansted to Kristiansand service will be a popular addition to our network map in 2018. We know that London is always in high demand amongst Norwegian travellers and see enormous potential for growing inbound tourism and opening travel links for Brits travelling to Sothern Norway and Kristiansand.
Mats Sigurdson, Stansted airport’s aviation director, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Wideroe to London Stansted, another new airline providing passengers with even more choice.
“I’m sure this news will be welcomed by Norwegian travellers wishing to visit London and the east of England, as well as the Norwegian community living in the UK. This makes a beautiful region of Norway more accessible to British travellers and we’re pleased Widerøe chose to operate to London Stansted Airport.”
Heidi Sørvig, chief executive at Norwegian destination marketing organisation USUS, said: “A London service has been highly requested in the region for many years and will open up tourism links and business opportunities in the region. Southern Norway offers many fantastic travel products and experiences that we are looking forward to introducing to British travellers. One of them is the largest underwater restaurant in the world, set to open in 2019, which we believe will be a world class attraction and of great interest to British visitors.”
Flights are on sale now.